Germicide



Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GERMICIDE No Drawing.

Application filed May 12,

1928. Seral No. 277,381.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates in general to disinfectants and more particularly has reference to. a germicide for water.

In the past numerous methods including both physical and chemical processes have been employed to remove or destroy the pathogenic micro organisms, which often cause infection in the water they contaminate. It has usually only been sought to eliminate the organisms or kill the vitality of such bacteria and no regard has generally been given to the destruction of harmless minute animal and vegetable life, such as results from a sterilization process.

Water has been run through slow and mechanical filters and boiled and distilled with the object of removing such matter, and has also been treated with various chemicals de signed to neutralize the effects of objectionable impurities of this character. Principal among the disinfectants that have been employed are chlorinated lime and liquid chlorine, as well as a number ofother chemicals such as permanganate of potash, and various metallic sulphates.

The choice of any of these numerous methods has generally been governed by the particular conditions prevailing. For municipal works and the like where large quantities of water are obtained over a considerable period of time, the various physical methods of removing infectious matter are most generally resorted to. -In the instances where such methods have been obviously impossible, such as in the case of flowing streams or lakes,

40 which are badly contaminated, or where filtration methods are not expedient, the chemical processes have been used.

Previous to this time, however, the most efficacious of these agents, have proved relatively unsatisfactory under certain conditions of use, due to various objectionable properties which often render their employment impractical. The greatest difficulties which have been encountered are the lack of stability in most instances which prevents storage, besides retarded action, low solubility, small power of penetration, corrosive effects, ofi'ensiveness and danger.

An object of this invention is to provide a germicide for water that is prompt in its action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a germicide for water that is exceedingly stable and highly soluble in water.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a germicide that has a high disinfecting power and is harmless to man and higher animals.

A further object of this invention is to provide a germicide that will not corrode metal or bleach or decay textiles.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a germicide that is inexpensive and not offensive.

WVith these and other objects in view which 7 may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists of the compound and method to be hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that the particular compound set forth may have substituted therefor any other compound found to have similar properties, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Certain organic compounds having a chlorine atom attached directly to a nitrogen atom Within their molecule have been demon-- strated to possess a germicidal action. The power of the disinfecting properties, however, has varied widely in the numerous compounds of this character. Some are not sufficiently strong to persistently discourage the growth of the bacteria, while others are so powerful as to exert harmful effects on higher life. The chemical structure or physical properties of compounds of this character have not proved indicative of the germicidal power as such and for the most part these substances have presented the same disadvantages that attend the numerous compounds now in use. i

I have found that certain solid organic chemicals in the aliphatic series containing within their molecule a positively charged chlorine atom attached directly to a nitrogen atom, exert a germicidal effect that is very GHzOO (I) NC1+2H1O= 3} H200 IIzCONIIz succinchlorimide water sueeinamic acid hypochlorous acid The reaction of this compound with water proceeds at a rapid rate and with great penetration and thus is able to render heavily infected water potable in an exceedingly short period of time. I have found this compound to be an efficient Water disinfectant in solutions as low as 5 mg. per liter and not harmful to higher life, even in as high acontent as 1 g. per ko. of body weight. The solution does not affect thetastc of the Water, nor does it have any injurious effect on metal or 12BX- tiles, besides being exceedingly stable and inoffensive.

The exact action of succinchlorimide is more or less obscure but it is thought it only acts as a ehlorinating agent when the chlorine separates out of the chloramine group and attaches itself to a nitrogen atom in a second compound, in which the nitrogen atom is united to less acld groups. As a number of living organisms, contain nitrogen in a form capable of attracting the chlorine from the chloramines of different kinds, the germicidal action of the latter group is apparently thus accounted for.

The disinfectant properties of a chloamine is greater than the equivalent of a free halogen and may either be ascribed to the action of the complex chloramine molecule as a Whole, or possibly to partial halogenation of particular cell constituents.

It is manifest that the destruction of micro-organisms by a germicide of this character is caused by chemical changes, brought about in some of the compounds making up the vital cell, either by a direct action of the disinfectant or by the action of products formed from the germioide by combination with substances present in the water.

There is accomplished by this invention a stable and inoffensive germicide for disinfecting water which is exceedingly prompt and pervading in its action, that does not have a harmful effect on higher life, and is not corrosive to metals or injurious to textiles.

While I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be fully understood that I do not confine myself to the precise compound set forth by way of explanation, as it is apparent that certain others having similar properties may be substituted therefor, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claim.

I claim: A germicide for water comprising succinchlorimide.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CYRUS B. WOOD. 

